In this moving and funny memoir that spans the six years following the author's purported recovery from anorexia, Dana Lise Shavin offers a candid and ultimately optimistic window into the mindset and machinations of a mental illness whose tentacles reached deep into her life, long after she was considered "cured."

In 1981, Shavin graduated from college with a BA in Psychology. It had been a difficult venture that included an expulsion, a four-month institutionalization, and a multitude of transfers. By the time it was over, she was convinced she was cured, and that it was time to start curing others. "I’m ready," she told her parents, her therapist, and friends—all of whom shook their heads in horror at her 95-pound, 5’9” frame. Undaunted, she landed a job as a counselor in a halfway house for drug and alcohol addicts. If anyone knew what it took to become a happy, functioning adult, Shavin was convinced she was the one.

As anyone would suspect, the burden of self-contempt, faulty logic, and interpersonal turmoil that are the character traits of depressive disorders and addictions do not miraculously disappear once medication and therapy have taken effect. Where, then, do these dangerous obsessions, such as the wish for obliteration (which often co-exists with the wish for immortality), go once a person sets foot on the road to recovery?

For Shavin, they lived beneath the radar of her supposed new-found health, disguising themselves in the falling-down houses she happily moved into and the dangerous neighborhoods she somehow didn't fear. They announced themselves in the deeply flawed men she professed to adore, the food rituals she thought were normal, the ordinary sex she could not have, and, most profoundly, her inability to acknowledge her father’s illness and encroaching death.

While many writers have written candidly and eloquently about their struggles with depression, addictions, and eating disorders, those stories usually conclude once there is progress toward recovery. Beyond recovery—whether from addiction, illness, the death of a loved one, or divorce—there is another story, one that is about how we re-join the world, and, in the living years that follow the darkness, pursue a life that is creative, engaged, and deeply felt in one's body.

My two-bits:

Many things can be learned from this book. The insight on life and living from the perspective of a person struggling primarily with an eating disorder and how it affects other aspects of her life.

I liked how her stories were told with her reflections and observations which in turn made me think about my own life.

It is stories like these that can trigger positive life changes if not just a little.

It was supposed to be just another flight, another escape into a foreign place where she could forget her past, forget her attachments. Until Clara found herself seated next to an alluring boy named Elias Phinn—a boy who seems to know secrets she has barely been able to admit to herself for years.

When her carry-on bag is accidentally switched with Elias’s identical pack, Clara uses the luggage tag to track down her things. At that address she discovers there is not one Elias Phinn, but two: the odd, paranoid, artistic, and often angry Elias she met on the plane, who lives in an imaginary world of his own making called Salem; and the kind, sweet, and soon irresistible Elias who greets her at the door, and who has no recollection of ever meeting Clara at all. As she learns of Elias’s dissociative identity disorder, and finds herself quickly entangled in both of Elias’s lives, Clara makes a decision that could change all of them forever. She is going to find out what the Salem Elias knows about her past, and how, even if it means playing along with his otherworldly quest. And she is going to find a way to keep the gentle Elias she’s beginning to love from ever disappearing again.

My two-bits:

I found this to be a story with themes of coming-of-age and coming-to-terms via road trip.

As one of the characters had dissociative identity disorder, it was interesting to learn about it and how it affects day to day living. Also, amazing how the mind works to cope with situations. The mind can protect so extremely to the point of splintering.

Some scenes were surreal and poignant with interesting perspectives of life and living.

There is also a kind of mystery within the story in trying to figure out the secret that the main character, Clara, is holding close.

PeekAbook:

About the author:

Jonathan Friesen is an author, speaker, and youth writing coach from Mora, Minnesota. His first young adult novel, Jerk, California, received the ALA Schneider Award. When he’s not writing, speaking at schools, or teaching, Jonathan loves to travel and hang out with his wife and three kids.

Private investigators Alexandra Neve and Ashford Egan are hired to succeed where the police have failed, to safely return home a missing ballerina. With no lead to pursue and no idea who could be behind the young woman’s kidnapping, they soon find themselves at a loss as to what to do.

To make matters worse, the heart of England seems to be caught in the middle of a little Ice Age. With snow endlessly falling and Tube lines either too cramped up to use or out of service, it is a pain to do any legwork in the huge metropolis.

Oh, and because trouble never comes alone, there may also be a serial killer on the loose in the streets of East London...

My two-bits:

This is the second book I have read in the series. I started with book 2 which I liked. And this book is just as good.

The story takes place during the holiday winter season which fits for cozy reading this time of year.

The friendship relationship between the detective duo of Neve and Egan is the heart of this series that keeps me interested in shadowing their investigations. Their banter and funny shared moments are entertaining.

I liked that this story revealed some of Egan's history especially in regards to his blindness which contributed to his character background.

This kidnapping mystery has an element of creepiness with the clues found that kept me engaged and wanting to find out why and most of all who?

About the author:

Cristelle Comby was born and raised in the French-speaking area of Switzerland, in Greater Geneva, where she still resides.

Thanks to her insatiable thirst for American and British action films and television dramas, her English is fluent.

She attributes to her origins her ever-peaceful nature and her undying love for chocolate. She has a passion for art, which also includes an interest in drawing and acting.

Danse Macabre is her third new-adult novel, and she’s hard at work on the next titles in the Neve & Egan series.

The game is once again afoot in this thrilling mystery from the bestselling author of The House of Silk, sanctioned by the Conan Doyle estate, which explores what really happened when Sherlock Holmes and his arch nemesis Professor Moriarty tumbled to their doom at the Reichenbach Falls.

Internationally bestselling author Anthony Horowitz’s nail-biting new novel plunges us back into the dark and complex world of detective Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty—dubbed the Napoleon of crime” by Holmes—in the aftermath of their fateful struggle at the Reichenbach Falls.

Days after the encounter at the Swiss waterfall, Pinkerton detective agent Frederick Chase arrives in Europe from New York. Moriarty’s death has left an immediate, poisonous vacuum in the criminal underworld, and there is no shortage of candidates to take his place—including one particularly fiendish criminal mastermind.

Chase and Scotland Yard Inspector Athelney Jones, a devoted student of Holmes’s methods of investigation and deduction originally introduced by Conan Doyle in “The Sign of Four”, must forge a path through the darkest corners of England’s capital—from the elegant squares of Mayfair to the shadowy wharfs and alleyways of the London Docks—in pursuit of this sinister figure, a man much feared but seldom seen, who is determined to stake his claim as Moriarty’s successor.

A riveting, deeply atmospheric tale of murder and menace from one of the only writers to earn the seal of approval from Conan Doyle’s estate, Moriarty breathes life into Holmes’s dark and fascinating world.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

I’d like to introduce Raven, a main character in The Orion Circle series. Though she plays a small role in Tortured Souls, Raven will have much larger roles in subsequent books. Raven was the main character in a vampire series I started several years ago. When the idea for the Orion Circle hit me, I decided to scrap Raven’s series and combine it into The Orion Circle series.

Raven is a vampire hunter from a family of supernatural hunters. After her mother’s death at the hands of a coven of vampires, she threw herself, body and soul, into training so she could one day avenge her mother.

Thanks for joining me today, Raven. What cases are you working on right now?
Mr. Kincaid has me working with a werewolf, of all things! We are tracking a new coven of vampires building a power base in San Antonio. But truth be told, I spend more energy ditching that annoying werewolf, Blake, than actual recon. Tonight I’m heading to a carnival. Several teenage girls have disappeared from the funhouse over the last few weeks. I think the new vampires are involved.

Sounds dangerous. Do you have a plan?
No. Dad is in charge of this mission, and he seldom thinks past using me as bait. Normally that’s all we need. Poor defenseless girl in a dark alley or all alone in an abandoned building—the vamps can’t resist. Then bam! Dad and my brother, Mark, swoop in and we take the confused vamps out.

Um, your own father uses you as bait?
Well, yeah. I’m a monster magnet so the vamps will find me anyway… may as well take advantage of that.

What’s a monster magnet?
It’s rare, but some humans are born with something in their blood that calls out to monsters. It’s like they can smell me miles away. So, yeah, I make great bait since monsters of all kinds flock to me. I was asked to participate in a hunt for Bigfoot in Washington in the hope that the guy will come out of hiding for a chance to smell me. Can I just say eww, and no way.

Why don’t you like werewolves?
Because they are all soulless monsters who think nothing of ripping a girl’s heart out and feeding it to the pack!

I… I didn’t know werewolves ate people anymore…
I meant that figuratively. Though I wouldn’t put it past those sleazy monsters…

Okay. Well on that note, thanks for talking with me today, Raven. Good luck on the hunt tonight!

Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie's longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim. But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily.

A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he's never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.

Kacie can't ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.

Friday, December 19, 2014

A City Full of Santas by Pooja SardanaAmazon (ebook currently at .99 cents) | Goodreads

Ranked as #1 BestSeller on Amazon India

This Christmas is special; really special for Santa. Read this lovely Christmas tale that would re-define the meaning of Christmas.

A must read for everyone.

Just like Pooja’s other books, this book brings love, warmth, and a special message.

A story that parents would love to read to their children.

About the author:
Pooja Sardana, is a mother, a teacher, an illustrator, an author, a visionary and the co-founder of PictureBookTree.

Her books and her initiative – PictureBookTree have been widely covered in Indian media and abroad. Titled as one of the Unsung Hero in ‘Saga of the Unsung Heroes of India” , she continues to touch lives of many through her books and her work.

Her picture books for children can be availed free of cost by NGOs or individuals working with Under-privileged children. If you work with under-privileged children, you can drop an email at Picturebooktree (AT) GMAIL (DOT) COM to receive your free copy.

--~ Book Blast Giveaway ~--

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 1/4/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Division spy Christy Hadden can't wait for her latest assignment posing as a student at a prestigious New York City academy and car thief extraordinaire.

The best part of the mission is her attractive handler, Jeremy, and her new team. The worst part? The sociopath masquerading as the academy's most popular guy.

But soon she realizes the car thieves are much more than they seem. Her simple spying mission becomes more dangerous than anyone imagined. If the organization discovers her true identity, they won't hesitate to kill her, and if she fails, others will suffer the same fate.

Young Adults, teens and adults will love this exciting suspenseful adventure with a dash of romance. You won't want to put it down.

Excerpt:

“Shhh!” he whispered, pulling me close to him. I could feel his heart pound against my chest and his shallow breath on my neck. Heat permeated through me. Once I gained my senses, I said, “Sorry, this spot is already taken.” I had to get into the mansion, alone.

He pulled back and looked at me. “I thought you were vacating it.”

My face reddened. “I had already chosen this spot, but realized I needed to use the bathroom, so I was going to try to make it inside and back in time for a sneak win. Seriously, the guy is so far from the can, anyone could beat him there.”

“You think you can beat Austin until you find out how fast he is. He’s the wide receiver for a rec football team. They nicknamed him Wind.”

I totally wanted to take him up on the implied challenge, the competitive part of me burning to win, but I knew it would make it more difficult for me to complete my mission tonight. I had to stick with the bathroom excuse.

I looked him straight in the eye and said, “Maybe I’ll give him a run for his money when I get back.”

His firm grip on me relaxed. I crouched down, and he followed suit.

“Cross your fingers for me.”

“Maybe I should go with you,” he said.

“How embarrassing would that be? No, just wait here. When you see me next, I’ll be kicking the can in victory.”

He let go. I turned, and after checking the area again, I slunk up next to the house, slid along the exterior stones and through the door. I kept it slightly ajar and moved quickly to the west wing and up the stairs, not running into a soul. I could hear clanging of dishes and muted voices coming from the dining hall as I passed, but I thought it interesting that no one stood guard anywhere like earlier. A place like this called for security guards, didn’t it? That’s when I realized I must be on camera.

This story quickly progresses from high school romance, crushes and drama into some hotwire action with undercover activities.

As the main character, Christy, gets deeper into her assignment she finds out there is more going on than expected which turns out to be more dangerous. But being part of a spy division, Christy has colleagues looking out for her during the sticky situations.

And through it all, Christy has to juggle guys coming onto her as well as manage her heart which is seems to be a primary focus in this story.

I was amused with one cute scene that included a Pride and Prejudice themed dance and banter - Yay for the shout out to Jane Austen!

Praise for the book:

This book will take you on a crazy ride that you won't want to get off of to eat, sleep or anything else! ~Cathy Jeppson

Hogan cleverly created characters with detail, who are both relatable and grounded. ~ the bookstalker

It’s a thriller that reminded me of a mix between Gone in 60 Seconds and the Gallagher Girls books ~Canda Mortensen

About the author:

Cindy M. Hogan graduated with a BA in education and is inspired by the unpredictable teenagers she teaches. More than anything she loves the time she has with her own teenage daughters and wishes she could freeze them at this fun age. If she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a great movie or planning their next party. Most of all, she loves to laugh.

She is the bestselling and award winning author of the Watched trilogy, a YA suspense series with a dash of romance. She has since branched off to write a mystery, Gravediggers, that won Best YA novel of 2013, a contemporary romance, Confessions of a 16-Year-Old Virgin Lips, and two in a spy series, Adrenaline Rush and Hotwire.

~*~

--~ Blog Tour Giveaway ~--

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/26/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

When Penny Farthing nearly dies, brilliant surgeon Calvin Warwick manages to implant a brass “Ticker” in her chest, transforming her into the first of the Augmented. But soon it’s discovered that Warwick killed dozens of people as he strove to perfect another improved Ticker for Penny, and he’s put on trial for mass murder.

On the last day of Warwick’s trial, the Farthings’ factory is bombed, Penny’s parents disappear, and Penny and her brother, Nic, receive a ransom note demanding all of their Augmentation research if they want to see their parents again. Is someone trying to destroy the Farthings...or is the motive more sinister?

Desperate to reunite their family and rescue their research, Penny and her brother recruit fiery baker Violet Nesselrode, gentleman-about-town Sebastian Stirling, and Marcus Kingsley, a young army general who has his own reasons for wanting to lift the veil between this world and the next. Wagers are placed, friends are lost, romance stages an ambush, and time is running out for the girl with the clockwork heart.

A lively, well-researched, expert study of aging in the literature of Jane Austen

There is no doubt that Jane Austen is enduringly popular with both a general readership and academics. But amid the wealth of approaches to her life and work, no one has made a full-length study of the concept of aging in her novels, and this book sets out to fill that gap. With chapters on the loss of youth and beauty, old wives, old maids, merry widows, and dowager despots, the theme allows for a lively exploration of many of Austen's most memorable characters. There are also chapters on hypochondria and illness, age and poverty, and death and wills.

The book draws on the six novels, major literary fragments, Austen's own letters, and the reminiscences of family members and contemporaries. Real-life examples are used to underline the fidelity of Austen's fictional representation. Austen's wry approach to the perils and consolations of growing older is bound to strike chords with many.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

I am thrilled to announce that Tortured Souls will be FREE on Amazon from

December 15, 2014 through December 19, 2014.

Be sure to grab your copy before it's too late!

Sometimes Rest in Peace isn't an option

Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it's ruining her life.

Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie's longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim. But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily.

A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he's never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.

Kacie can't ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.

About the Author

Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a bestselling YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs, four cats, and lots of dragons. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals.

Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!)

She currently lives in San Antonio, TX but has been somewhat a rolling stone in life, having resided in several different cities and states.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

-----> Finally starting this series with the audio version. So far, I like the spunky main character.

~*~

* some of these may be offered as giveaways within the next two months

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

Addie Heywood thought she was doing okay after her fiancé dumped her just weeks before their wedding, claiming he’d found someone else more compatible with his health food tastes. But when he marries the other woman three months later, Addie needs to get away. Leaving her home in Idaho, she escapes to Mitchel Creek, Georgia to visit her Aunt Janie. She just wants to spend the next two weeks enjoying her aunt’s southern cooking, not dodging the guys her aunt is determined to set her up with.

Chase Nichols isn’t looking for love. His dream is to trade his computer mouse for his guitar and make it big in the country music world. If he can land a job in Nashville, he might have a shot at getting discovered. His plans get derailed when he does his neighbor a favor and picks up her niece, Addie, at the airport. Things get even more complicated when his ex-girlfriend comes back into the picture. That’s when he hatches a new plan. Since Addie wants to avoid her aunt’s matchmaking schemes, and he wants to avoid his ex-girlfriend, they’ll fool the world by pretending to date. What neither of them counts on is actually falling in love.

My two-bits:

A somewhat sweet romance that gently transitions from friendship to love.

Themes of music and photography play roles as well.

Lots of baking and sweets in this story. Just had to go out and eat some cinnamon buns.

Excerpt:

“You?” Addie said in disbelief. “You’re the friend my aunt sent?”

A slow, mischievous grin tipped his mouth. “Yes, ma’am.”

She stared at him, wondering if he was telling her the truth. “But…she said an old friend of hers was coming to get me.”

“I am an old friend of hers.”

Addie made a quick perusal of her surroundings, searching for an older gentlemen holding helium balloons. For all she knew Pretty Boy here could’ve stolen the sign since she’d mentioned it earlier. “If you are who you say you are then where are the balloons?”

“I left them in my truck.”

A likely story.

He started to laugh. “Look, I didn’t knock anyone off, if that’s what you’re thinkin’.”

It had been what she was thinking. “Then where did you get that sign?”

“From your Aunt Janie.”

“How did you know her name was Janie?”

That little smirk was back on his handsome face. “Because she’s known me since I was a kid.”

“Oh, really.” Addie leaned in close. “Then what’s her last name?”

“Caldwell.”

Drat. How did he know that? Unless, of course, he was telling the truth. “I’m going to need to call my aunt just to be sure. Could you give me your name?”

“Are you sayin’ you really don’t remember meeting me?”

“Well, yeah. You just helped me get my bag but I don’t remember us exchanging names.”

He grinned. “I meant before today. Chase Nichols? That doesn’t ring a bell?”

Addie’s mouth dropped open. “You’re Chase Nichols?” Her eyes skimmed over every inch of him. He was a lot taller and so much hotter. “You used to be short.”

Again, the smirk. “I had a late growth spurt.”

About the author:

Hi, I'm Cindy Roland Anderson. I write clean, contemporary romance with a combination of humor, romantic tension and some pretty great kissing scenes.

I'm lucky to be married to my best friend. I love being a mother and have five amazing children. Our family has expanded by adding a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and four adorable grandchildren.

I'm a registered nurse and work in the newborn intensive care unit. I love to read, almost as much as I love writing. And I love chocolate, probably a little too much.

Praise for Under a Georgia Moon

“This is just the kind of sweet romance that I love. I thought the plot was fun and the writing well done, was paced well and kept me wanting more. Throw in some swoony moments and I was hooked.” –Kathy (Bookworm Nation)

“Often times when I read multiple books by the same author I am worried that the later books won't live up to the first one. That is NOT the case with Under a Georgia Moon. I was hooked on Cindy Anderson's writing with Fair Catch and then again with Discovering Sophie and now with this book.” –Sara Ebert

I love all of Cindy's books, but so far this one is my favorite! I just didn't want it to end. Definitely a book that I will read over again. –Dana Weaver

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/22/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

As head of Snow Valley hospital's fundraising effort, Paisley Hackett barely has time to organize the craft show, cookie decorating party, and the annual Christmas Ball. What she doesn't have time for is falling in love with Clay Jett, the incredibly handsome bass player who sweeps into town. She's been burned by a tourist romance before, so with everything going on, Paisley will have to work overtime to protect her heart from Clay and his swoon-worthy ballads.

My two-bits:

This was a good story to end this Christmas collection. It included a few characters from the previously read novellas which was a treat.

Holiday events in town are backdrops for different parts of the story including a carnival and Christmas Ball.

The fun twist with this story is the element of music and small rock band musicians.

The romance was a sweet one that is based on friendship from the past.

Overall, I liked reading this set of novellas. I got a sense of Snow Valley and the holiday festivities that occur there. It seems like a nice warm and fuzzy kind of town to visit someday.

~*~

* review copy courtesy of book tour here for more details on this book.

This is one of the stories from this collection...

Christmas in Snow Valley

Snow Valley, Montana, is a small community with the tradition of doing Christmas big. Festivities begin with tree lighting in the town square the day after Thanksgiving and continue until the culminating romantic Christmas Ball. From the Polar Express to a Winter Carnival, there’s something for every wonder-filled child—and every couple who’s in love—or about to be.

Christmas in Snow Valley is packed with six wonderful Christmas novellas sure to bring romance into your holiday season.

Sleigh bells ring
Are you listening
In the lane
Snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland

Gone away, is the bluebird
Here to stay, is a new bird
He sings a love song,
As we go along
Walking in a winter wonderland

In the meadow we can build a snowman
And pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say are you married
We'll say No Man
But you can do the job
When you're in town

Later on
We'll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid
The plans that we've made
Walking in a winter wonderland

In the meadow we can build a snowman
And pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with Mr. Snowman
Until the other kids knock him down

When it snows
Ain't it thrilling
Though your nose is a chilling
We'll frolic and play the Eskimo way
Just walking in a winter wonderland

A beautiful sight
We're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland

~*~

This would be a treat to see under the xmas tree...

Illusionarium
by Heather Dixon Amazon | Goodreads
to be released: May 19, 2015

From the author of Entwined, a brilliantly conceived adventure through an alternate London. This sweeping, cinematic tale of an apprentice scientist desperate to save his family—and his world—is The Night Circus meets Pixar.

Through richly developed parallel worlds, vivid action, a healthy dose of humor, and gorgeous writing, Heather Dixon spins a story that is breathtaking and wholly original.

Ever since her high school boyfriend's death from a car accident three years earlier, Jessica Mason and her hometown of Snow Valley, Montana with all its awful memories have NOT been compatible. Running away to New Orleans on a ballet scholarship, Jessica cringes when she thinks about confronting Pastor John and the community church--she doesn't want to talk about God, not after He took Michael, the boy she was going to marry ever since third grade.

In the local scene of funky New Orleans, Jessica seeks out Madame LaBlanc, hoping Michael will absolve her of her guilt the night of the car accident in a seance, but the spirit world is silent and she fears the grief will drown her.

Finally succumbing to family pressure, Jessica reluctantly returns for Christmas - and the little town of Snow Valley does Christmas BIG. When she visits Michael’s grave in the church yard, Jessica is shocked to meet handsome James Douglas, Pastor John’s nephew, who’s studying for the ministry. No, she is NOT going to be attracted to someone who wants to be a preacher! Definitely not compatible! But James Douglas is unlike any minister-in-training she's ever met. James can not only dish back Jessica’s finely-tuned sarcasm but understands grief all too well, turning Jessica’s world upside down.

Can Jessica forgive herself for that terrible, fateful night? Can she take another risk on love?

A fast-paced romance with humor, family dynamics, Christmas, and kissing.

Zombie sighting:Then I hobbled off the stage like a zombie, certain I would never dance again in my entire life.
-chapter 3

My two-bits:

I found this to be a nice cozy (especially with the baking scene) romance.

The main character, Jessica, experiences growth in regards to overcoming grief and a past relationship.

There were some cute moments between Jessica and her love interest.

~*~

This is one of the stories from this collection...

Christmas in Snow Valley

Snow Valley, Montana, is a small community with the tradition of doing Christmas big. Festivities begin with tree lighting in the town square the day after Thanksgiving and continue until the culminating romantic Christmas Ball. From the Polar Express to a Winter Carnival, there’s something for every wonder-filled child—and every couple who’s in love—or about to be.

Christmas in Snow Valley is packed with six wonderful Christmas novellas sure to bring romance into your holiday season.

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* review copy courtesy of book tour here for more details on this book.

My mother will start to worry - Beautiful, what's your hurry?
Father will be pacing the floor - Listen to the fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful, please don't hurry
Maybe just a half a drink more - Put some records on while I pour

The neighbors might think - Baby, it's bad out there
Say, what's in this drink? - No cabs to be had out there
I wish I knew how - Your eyes are like starlight now
To break this spell - I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell

I ought to say no, no, no - Mind if I move in closer?
At least I'm gonna say that I tried - What's the sense in hurting my pride?
I really can't stay - Baby don't hold out
Ah, but it's cold outside

I've got to get home - Oh, baby, you'll freeze out there
Say, lend me your coat - It's up to your knees out there
You've really been grand - Thrill when you touch my hand
Why don't you see - How can you do this thing to me?

There's bound to be talk tomorrow - Think of my life long sorrow
At least there will be plenty implied - If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can't stay - Get over that hold out
Ah, but it's cold outside
Oh, baby, it's cold outside
Oh, baby, it's cold outside

Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks.

Thanks to three of today’s bestselling teen authors—John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle—the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.

From the author of One Pink Line comes a story about letting go of the past and finding bravery in the depths of fear. Set on the sun-soaked beaches of Thailand and the rough waters of the Indian Ocean, The Unimaginable paints a vivid portrait of a young woman on a journey to find herself—and her harrowing fight for survival.

After twenty-eight years of playing by the rules, Jessica Gregory moves from her small Indiana town to Phuket, Thailand. But her newfound routine is upended with the arrival of Grant Flynn, a captivating, elusive man who is sailing around the world while trying to move on from a past tragedy. Jessica volunteers to help crew Grant’s boat, Imagine, on a passage across the Indian Ocean and finds herself falling in love with him as the voyage gets underway. But when disaster strikes, Jessica must summon her courage as the crew is confronted by unspeakable terrors––and, aboard a boat named for such promise, comes the unimaginable.

My two-bits:

The first half of the story is a lovely tale of an American going overseas to experience another country through a teaching program. The main character, Jessica, is likable and she meets equally likable people including a love interest that makes the idea of travel dreamy - especially to Thailand.

Loved the character growth and romance that Jessica undergoes from her life in Indiana to Thailand.

However, it's stories like these similar to the films Captain Phillips and All is Lost, that make you re-think if a boat cruise around the world. The second half of the book takes a turn when Jessica continues to pursue her dream of travel by signing on to be a crew member of a boat cruise.

While the fantasy of experiencing the world traveling by boat is adventurous there are dangerous elements to being out at sea to consider.

Praise for the book:

"Dina Silver's deftly woven tale has all of my favorite fictional elements: romance, action and adventure, and a knock-your-socks-off ending. The Unimaginable is simply superb." —Tracey Garvis Graves, New York Times bestselling author of On the Island

About the author:

Dina Silver is an author, a wine drinker, and an excellent parallel parker.

She is the author of Kat Fight, Finding Bliss, and One Pink Line, which was chosen as a 2012 Top Title by IndieReader and was a finalist in their 2012 Discovery Awards.

She lives with her husband, son, and twenty-pound tabby cat in suburban Chicago. She’d prefer to live where it’s warm year round, but then she’d never stay home and write anything.

Lucy lives on the twenty-fourth floor. Owen lives in the basement. It's fitting, then, that they meet in the middle -- stuck between two floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, Lucy and Owen spend the night wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is back, so is reality. Lucy soon moves abroad with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father.

The brief time they spend together leaves a mark. And as their lives take them to Edinburgh and to San Francisco, to Prague and to Portland, Lucy and Owen stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and phone calls. But can they -- despite the odds -- find a way to reunite?

Smartly observed and wonderfully romantic, Jennifer E. Smith's new novel shows that the center of the world isn't necessarily a place. Sometimes, it can be a person.

When the daughter of San Francisco socialites Gavin and Sondra Borden is brutally assaulted, Jamie Vail makes it her mission to find the attacker. A seasoned Sex Crimes Inspector with the SFPD, work is what Jamie does best. She isn’t distracted by the fact that her adopted son and the victim go to the same school.

Jamie can almost set aside that the man caught on tape with the victim is a man she’s been wary of for years, her son's biological father. At home, her son is performing poorly in school, becoming more reclusive, and nothing she does can draw him out. Every piece of evidence seems to bring her closer to home.

Desperate to be wrong, Jamie must dig deep before her son lands behind bars, or worse.

My two-bits:

I am starting this series at book 5 which works as a standalone. I think if you read the previous you will have the background knowledge of characters in the Rookie club, but not essential.

This story shows a variety of aspects that surround an assault case through the eyes of different people involved with investigation including the bad guy.

The investigation hits close to home for the main character, Jamie, as she has to figure out why and how her adopted son is connected which creates great curiousity throughout the story.

Loved the San Francisco site references.

About Danielle Girard:

As one of four children, Danielle Girard grew up in a house where the person with the best story got heard, and it's probably no surprise that fast-paced suspense stories have always been her favorite.

Girard's books have won the Barry Award and been selected for the RT Reviewers Choice Award.

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

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Bought:

From Powell's Indiespensable club package (details):Powell's subscription club delivers the best new books, with special attention to independent publishers. Signed first editions. Inventive, original sets. Exclusive printings.... Every six weeks, another installment to read and admire.

Plus, every package is stocked with exciting surprises!

This is package #50. (sorry - this is sold out, but you can signup for the next one)

Elf and Yoli are sisters. While on the surface Elfrieda's life is enviable (she's a world-renowned pianist, glamorous, wealthy, and happily married) and Yolandi's a mess (she's divorced and broke, with two teenagers growing up too quickly), they are fiercely close — raised in a Mennonite household and sharing the hardship of Elf's desire to end her life. After Elf's latest attempt, Yoli must quickly determine how to keep her family from falling apart, how to keep her own heart from breaking, and what it means to love someone who wants to die.

All My Puny Sorrows is the latest novel from Miriam Toews, one of Canada's most beloved authors — not only because her work is rich with deep human feeling and compassion but because her observations are knife-sharp and her books wickedly funny. And this is Toews at her finest: a story that is as much a comedy as it is a tragedy, a goodbye grin from the friend who taught you how to live.

Under the Georgia Moon
by Cindy Roland Anderson
-christian, romance
courtesy of book tour sponsored by I Am A Reader
Thanks !Amazon | Goodreads

Library:

Isla and the Happily Ever After
by Stephanie Perkins
-romance, YAAmazon | Goodreads

Love ignites in the City That Never Sleeps, but can it last?

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.

Featuring cameos from fan-favorites Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket, this sweet and sexy story of true love—set against the stunning backdrops of New York City, Paris, and Barcelona—is a swoonworthy conclusion to Stephanie Perkins’s beloved series.

Passionate, compassionate, vitally inventive and scrupulously playful, Ali Smith’s novels are like nothing else. A true original, she is a one-of-a-kind literary sensation. Her novels consistently attract serious acclaim and discussion—and have won her a dedicated readership who are drawn again and again to the warmth, humanity and humor of her voice.

How to be both is a novel all about art’s versatility. Borrowing from painting’s fresco technique to make an original literary double-take, it’s a fast-moving genre-bending conversation between forms, times, truths and fictions. There’s a Renaissance artist of the 1460s. There’s the child of a child of the 1960s. Two tales of love and injustice twist into a singular yarn where time gets timeless, structural gets playful, knowing gets mysterious, fictional gets real—and all life’s givens get given a second chance.

A NOTE TO THE READER:
Who says stories reach everybody in the same order?

This novel can be read in two ways and this book provides you with both.

In half of all printed editions of the novel the narrative EYES comes before CAMERA.

In the other half of printed editions the narrative CAMERA precedes EYES.

The narratives are exactly the same in both versions, just in a different order.

The books are intentionally printed in two different ways, so that readers can randomly have different experiences reading the same text. So, depending on which edition you happen to receive, the book will be: EYES, CAMERA, or CAMERA, EYES. Enjoy the adventure.

Celebrate family, friends, and books! For every use of the hashtag #GiveABook on Facebook or Twitter before December 25th, Penguin Random House (details) will donate a book to the Save the Children organization, up to 25,000 times!

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* some of these may be offered as giveaways within the next two months

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently